Magazine type of drilling tool



4 Sheets-Sheet E. H. H EDDY MAGAZINE TYPE OF DRILLING TOOL Filed June2-, 1929 sept. 27, 1932.

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E. H. HEDDY MAGAZINE TYPE OF DRILLING TOOL Filed June 2s, 1929l 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 27, 1932. E H, HEDDY 1,879,226

MAGAZINE TYPE OF RILLING TOOL Filed Jupe 2s, 1929 4 Sheets-sheet 4Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT or-FICE MAGAZINE TYPE 0FDBILLING TOOL Application led June 26, 1929. Serial No. 873,772.

My invention pertains to a magazine type of drilling tool or appliancefor drilling deep wells. By magazine type I mean a tool in which thecutters may be changed without 5 withdrawing the tool from the well.

An object of my invention is a drilling tool in which sharp cutters maybe substituted for cutters which have become dull in drilling, withoutremoving the drilling tool from the bottom of the well.

A further object is a drilling tool or implement having sharp cutters todo the iirst work when the tool is introduced into the well and thenhaving another set of cutters which may be substituted in drilling, forthe first set when the iirst set becomes dull and this substitutiontaking place Without withdrawing the drilling tool or implement' fromthe well.

A still further object of my invention is having a first set of cutterson the bottom of a drilling tool having a second set mounted on `thedrilling tool and positioned with their lower edge above the lower edgeof the first set, and a construction whereby the second set may belowered when the first set becomes dull and therefore the drillingoperation may be carried on without removing the tool from the bottom ofthe Well.

In this connection a more detailed object is in having the first set ofcutters forming a pair which may be bolted or otherwise secured to thedrill tool to allow replacement at the top of the well and having asecond 3,-, pair of cutters which are longitudinally slidable andtransversely shiftable in regard to the drill tool, so that after thedulling ofthe first set the second setmay be lowered and then expandedlaterally to bring the second pair of cutters into operation. Whenexpanded 'or shifted laterally the second set of cutters are held'intheir expanded position resisting the inward pressure and thus cutting afull size hole the same size as the first set of cutters.

y Another object of my invention is a tripping device which holds thesecond set of cutters in the elevated position while the i-rst 'set isin operation and in which the trip device may be operated by dropping aplunger or plug through the string of drill pipe and forcing it downwith the slushing fluid. The pumping of the slushing iiuid has apositive action in forcing the second set of cutters downward to theircutting position and in expanding or pressing such cutters laterally toll the hole. f

Another object of my invention is in rotary drilling by a hydraulicmethod in which the slushing fluid is fed to the first set of 60.cutters while these are in operation and then this slushing iiuid isutilized to force the second set of cutters to their operative position,the slushing fluid being fed to thesecond set of cutters and cut oftfrom the leads or ducts o leading to the irst set, and also while thefirst set of cutters are in operation with the slushing fluid being ledthrough special ducts thereto, the ducts which carry the iow to thesecond set being automatically cut oi. m

Al general object of my invention isI toy lessen the labor and wear andtear on machinery in drilling, in that at least two sets of cutters maybe utilized to drill the hole before it is necessary to withdraw thedrill- 7;, ing tool and the string of drill pipe from a well forchanging the cutters and thus reduce the number of round trips necessaryin withdrawing and inserting the cutting tools in the drilling of awell.

In constructing my invention I utilize a tubular drilling tool with a.pair of cutters bolted atl the bottom. These cutters are attached to thetool at the top'of the well and have a bottom cutting edge and also aside 35 cutting edge to round out the hole. A second pair of cutters arepositioned in thetool with their lower or cutting edge above the edge ofthe first set and with their lateral or side cutting edge drawn in outof contact 90 with the hole. The second set of cutters are vpositivelyheld in an elevated position by a tubular plug which is suspended in thetubular drilling tool by dog-like catches and when inthis upper positionthe slushing fluid may ns be pumped down through a string of drill pipe,preferably through a sub, through the tubular plug and out of openingsinto ducts which discharge in a suitable position to lead -the fluid tothe irstset of cutters. After the 100 first set of cutters are worn andare no longer through the string of drill pipe and this plunger has afiexible gasket or packing thereon so that the slushing fiuid will acton such gasket and forcibly cause the plunger to release the dogs orlatches and force the tubular plug and the second set of cuttersdownwardly, the cutting tool in the meantime having been lifted off thebottom of the well.

The plunger is also provided with a pair of abutment dogs whichpreferably engage the sub and hold the plunger with the tubular plug inits lowermo-st position. This tubular plug has a portion which holds thesecond set of cutters pressed out laterally and these cutters obtain anupward thrust against shoulders formed in the tubular cutting tool. Theslushing fluid is fed through ducts communicating with the tubular plugand discharging adjacent said second set of cutters.

An application of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, showing the first set ofcutters in full view;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken partly in section, in the direction of thearrow 2 of Fig. 1, showing the second set of cutters in full view and inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig.1, in the direction of the arrows, showing the second set of cutters intheir elevated and contracted position;

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 with the second set of cutters intheir` lowered or operative position, the first set being illustrated asdulled and showing the tubular plug in its lowermost position with theplunger fitting therein;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 in thedirection of the arrows, to illustrate the passage for slushing fiuidthrough the upper plug and illustrating the mounting of the first set ofcutters;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal bottom view taken in the direction of the arrow 6of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale; I

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing theleads for the slushing fluid feeding the first set of cutters;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 10-1() of Fig. 2, showingthe leads for the slushing fluid feeding the second set of cutters; Fig.11 is an elevation of the tubular plug taken in the direction of thearrow 11 of Fig. 12; p

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the tubular plug,

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the plunger; Fig. 14 is a perspective view ofone of the second set or shiftable cutters;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of oneof the first set or fixed set ofcutters.

In my invention I employ a tubular drill tool 11 which has a first setof cutters 12 secured at the bottom and a second set of cutters 13 whichmay belowered and pressed outwardly into position. A sub 13 is securedto the upper end of the drill tool and a string of drill pipe 14 isconnected to the sub. Fitting inside of the upper drill tool I employ atubular plug 15, to control the operation of this plug I have a plunger16 which is dropped through the drill pipe.

In detail the upper drill tool has a lower pair of transverse slots 17which slots have an upper horizontal shoulder 18 with a curved shoulder19 extending downwardly and inwardly, a vertical backing section 20 anda horizontal shoulder 21 at the bottom. The first set of cutters 12which fit in said slots are provided with a fiat upper end 22 fittingagainst the shoulder 18, a curved inner edge 23 fitting against thecurved portion 19, an inner vertical edge 24 fitting against thevertical edge 20 and a shoulder 25 fitting against the shoulder 21. Theouter edge 26 has a forwardly turned cutting edge 27 (note particularlyFigs. 7 and 15) and provided with a bottom cutting edge 28. The loweredge 28 merges with the side 26 and with the vertical inner edge 29.These first or fixed set of cutters have a perforation 30 therethroughwhich pass bolts 31 holding them in place.

These bolts have their heads and the nuts 32 fitting in recessedsections 33 at the base of the drill tool; the body of the drill toolotherwise is preferably circular in cross section.

The tubular drill tool 11 has vertical slots 34 at the bottom for thesecond set of tools 13. The inner portion of the drill tool is providedwith shoulders 35, 36 and 37 connected by vertaken inthe direction ofthe arrow 12 of Fig.. efficient, a tapered plunger is dropped 11 ticalsections 38 and 39, there being an out- A ward bulge as indicated at 40adjacent the bottom of the tubular drill tool. (Note particularly Figs.3 and 4.) The shiftable drilling tools 13 are constructed with steps 41,42 and 43 and with vertical sections 44, 45 and 46 making these steps.There is also a vertical outer edge 47 and a fiat top 48 with a cut` outsection 49 leaving a hook 50. A tapered section 51 leads downwardly fromthe hook on the inside ed e, terminating in a shoulder 52 and below thisshoulder there is an inner edge 53. This vertical edge 47 has aforwardly extending cutting edge 54 to cut the side walls of the holeand is provided with a bottom cutting edge 55 doing the main cutting.The vertical edge of the portions of the drill tool adjacent the slot 34have a bevelled edge 56 to accomodate the edge 54 when these cutters 13are retracted in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when the cutters13 are in their elevated position of Fig. 3.

There is a space 57 at the bottom of the groove 34 which may becomecompacted with dirt so that I provide a. shearing edge 58 on the rearface of each of the cutters 13 so that when such cutters are forceddownwardly in the manner hereunder set forth this edge will displacesuch dirt and will allow the forcing of such cutters downwardly. Thesecutters are provided with an L-shaped slot 59 having a vertical portion60 and a horizontal portion 61. The bolts 62 extend through theseslots,-

such bolts having heads and nuts 63 which fit on the outside of thelower portion of the drill tool having the slots.

The drill tool at its upper end has a tapered thread 64 which engagesthe internal thread of the sub, which sub has a large opening or recess65 which is somewhat dcmeshaped so that there is an outwardly taperingannular surface 66 exposed on the upper portion of the drill tool insideof this recess. The sub has a passage 67 therethrough which aligns withthe passage through the drill pipe for pumping down -slushing fluid.

The cutters and the drill tool are assembled at thetop of the well withthe second set or replaceable cutters held in their upper position bythe tubular plug 15. This plug it will be noted has a hollow section 68(note particular Figs. 3, 4, 11 and 12) and a solid section 69 at thebottom. This solid section has an annular shoulder 70 with an annulargroove 71 above the shoulder. This groove engages the hooks formed abovethe recess 49 of the cutters 13 and holds these in the position shown inFig. 3 in which position the bolts 62 are at the bottom of the verticalleg 60 of the L-shaped slots 59. The tubular plug 16 is itself held inits upper positionl by means of latches or triggers designated generallyby 72. These are illustrated as having a hook end 73 engaging theannular shoulder 66, being pivoted on pintles 74 in slots 75 in atubular 'extension 76 in the upper part of the tubular plug 15. Thesetriggers have a straight lower end 77 pressed outwardly by a flat spring78 (note Fig. 3). The extension 76 has an open top as indicated at 79and a tapered interior surface 80. This extension 76 is only secured ontwo sides of the main bod)T portion of the tubular plug, leavingopenings 81 on opposite sides for the slushing mud to flow downwardlywhen the plunger 16 is in its seated position as hereunder detailed.

When thea second set of cutters are in their elevated position, such asshown in Figs. 1

, and 3, the slushing fluid passes downwardly through the sub. theupper'extension 7 6, the hollow portion 68 ofthe tubular plug andoutwardly through the ports 82 into the annular grooves 83 formed on theexterior of the plugs. It then fiows through sloping ducts 84 intovertical ducts 85 form-ed on the body portion ofthe drill tool.' Thesevertical ducts are formed by having a vertical semi-circular groove 86cut or formed in the body portion and with semi-circular half pipes 87welded thereto; thus making circular ducts. These discharge as indicatedat 88 adjacent the tops of the fixed first set of cutters and slightlyin front of such cutters as indicated in Fig. 9.

The plug 16 has a body portion 89 (note Figs. 4 and 13) which is taperedfor the main portion thereof, having a short cylindrical section 90atthe top and a smaller cylindrical section 91 at the bottom with aconical point 92. The upper end has a threaded pin 93 on which isthreaded a stem 94, the stem having internal threads engaging the pin93. A fiexible cup washer or bushing 95 of leather or the like, iscaught at the lower end of the stem on the shoulder 96 on the upper endof the body portion 89. A pair or dogs 97 are secured by apivot pin 98between ears 99 on the upper part of the stem. These dogs have aprojecting finger 100 engaging inside of the sub as shown in Fig. 4 anda shoulder 101 engaging the curved recess 65 of the sub. Small pins 102prevent these dogs from tilting in the wrong direction.

After the drilling tool has been operated on the first or fixed set ofcutters, until these become dull and worn off somewhat as shown in Fig.4, the drill tool is hoisted ofll the bottom of the hole and the plug 16is dropped through the string of drill pipe. This is designed so thatthe washer 95 has a snug fit in the cylindrical bore 67 of the sub andso that the tapered portion 89 fits in the tapered portion 80 of theextension 76 of the tubular plug.v When the plug strikes this extension76 and is guided therein by the point 92 it hits the straight ends 77 ofthe triggers, shifting these from the position shown in Fig. 3 to thatshown in Fig. 4. The

pumping action of the slushing mud spreads the washer 95 in thecylindrical portion 67 of the sub and should there be anv tendency ofthe second set of cutters tosti ck. these are bodily forced down so thatthe slushing ports 81 having the annular groove 83 are brought out ofregistry with the ducts 84 and 85, thus no mud can be forced out of thedevice until the tubular plug is moved bodilv downwardlv from theposition shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. The plugis providedwith a plurality of grooves 103, 104 and 105 inl which there are packingrings frming a tight seal with the inner cylindrical surface of thedrill tool.

The downward movement thereof of the tubular plug with, the plungerforces the shiftable cutters downwardly, the bolts 62 arising in thevertical section 60 of the L- shaped slots 59. The downward movementreleases the hooks 49 from the annular shoulder 70 and the taperedsections 106 of the plug force the cutters outwardly until the bolt 62comes into the position at the inner end of the horizontal section 61 ofthe L- shaped slots 59 as shown in Fig..4. In this position it will benoted that the shoulders on the cutters bear against the horizontalshoulders at the lower portion of the drill tool and have an internalbacking by the taper 106 fitting against the sloping surface 51 and thecylindrical section 107 fitting against the vertical section 53 of thecutters. This prevents the cutters from being thrust upwardly or forcedinwardly in the drilling operation and holds them in firm position. Whenthe cutters are thus forced down their cutting edge is below the dullcutting edge of the first set of cutters and as above mentioned if thereis any dirt caught in the lower part of the groove or slot which holdsthis second set of cutters, it is sheared off by the shearing edge -58of the rear face of the cutters.

In this lowered position the slushing fluid passes downwardly throughthe o en portions 81 on each side of the extension 76 of the plugs,through the hollow central section and throughthe ports 81 to theannular groove 83, from which it enters the lateral sloping ducts 108and'vertical ducts 109 leading to a point in front of the shiftingcutters the fixed cutters.

13 as shown in Fig. 10. These vertical ducts are made in the outsideportion of the drill tool in the same manner as the vertical ducts fordischarging from the upper position to It will be noted that unless theplug has its ports in registry with the upper orlower set of ducts, thatno slush# ing fluid can be forced through the tool and hence aconsiderable pressure may be generated to bodily force the shiftablecutters downwardly should they stick and to force them outwardly andalso that when slushing fluid is being forced to one set of ducts foreither the fixed or the shiftable cutters, that it cannot be by-passedthrough the other set of ducts.

When the plunger and the plu are in their lowermost position, the dogs 9engage the sub as shown in Fig. 4 and prevent the upward movement orshifting of the tubular plug and the plunger.- Should any dirt flowingwith the slushing mud stick in the ports,

'this is sheared off by a downwardly turning cutting edge on the upperedge of the annular groove 83 adjacent the ports 82. It will be notedthat it takes a very slight movement of the tubular plug 15 to cut ofi:lthe flow through the upper ducts 84 and 85 so that should the shitablecutters for any reason stick or bind, av positive hydraulic pressure isbrought to bear to force the tubular plug downwardly.

It is considered desirable to have the cup `force the plug and theshiftable cutters downwardly should the latter stick. However, this maynot be always necessary, for in operation when the plug 16 is insertedin the drill pipe at the top, it is desirable to .run the mud pumpssufliciently opened up in order to force the plug 16 down quickly and togive a type of impact blow when the plunger seats in the tubular plug 16and thus have the function of giving a ar to loosen the shiftablecutters' should they in any manner stick. It is to be understood thatthe free or open spaces as between the tapered portion 106 of thefbodystructure 69 ofthe plug will be packed with grease as will be any otherfree spaces, to prevent entrance of the slushing mud and also of thecuttings from the formation in which the drill is working. A smallwooden plug may also be placed in the lower portion 57 of the slotscarrying the' od of drilling, in that a rotary drilling tool may beintroduced into a well with the first set of cutters operating and whenthese cutters become dull a second set of cutters may be brought intouse without removing the first set of'cutters and without removing thedrill tool and the drill string from the hole.

VThe slushing fluid also plays an important part in the operation, thisfirst has a flow from an upper position in the drill tool to the firstset of cutters and then from a lowered position in the drill tool to thesecond set of cutters, and is prevented from by-passing from one set tothe other so that the slushing mud will not flow through both sets ofducts at the same time. The slushing fluid also has an importantoperation in positively forcing the shiftable cutters downwardly andcausing the expansion laterally of such cutters.

It will'be noted that an important feature of my invention is that thesecond set of cutters during the drilling operation by the first set areheld in a position considerably above the bottom cutting edge of thefirst set-of1l cutters and also retracted inwardly from the walls of thehole so that the secondary cutters are not subjected to a cuttingactionv into operative position they are positively forced downwardlyand outwardly so that thebottoms of the second cutters engage the bottomof the hole and also the side walls of the hole, thus maintaining thehole of a true side.

Another important feature of my invention is that the secondary cuttersare positively held upwardly into an inoperative position until they arebrought into use and then after being forced downwardly and outwardlythey are positively and rigidly held in this drilling position. y

Another characteristic of my invention is that the slushing fluid firstfeeds directly to .the first set of cutters and when the second set arebrought into use the fiow of the slushing fluid to the first set is cutout and directed entirely to the second set.

Another feature of my invention is that the second set of cutters cannotbe brought into operation by the accidental dropping of foreign objectsin the drill pipe or by solid material being carried down by theslushing fluid and .blocking the passage of such slushing fluid.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description,drawings and claims.

I claim: 3o l. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a stringof drill pipe, a drilling tool having afirst set of cutters rigidlyconnected thereto, a second set of cutters downwardly and outwardlyshiftably mounted on the tool, means to suspend thesecond set of cuttersout of operative position while the first set is operating, a trippingdevice adapted to be introduced through a drill string and trip themeans suspending the second set of cutters whereby the second set ofcutters shift p downwardly into an' operative drilling position.

2. A drilling appliance as claimed in claim 1, the tripping device beingadapted to be a forced downwardly by a slushing fluid, means to flow theslushing fiuid to the first set of cutters, means to shut off said fiow,and means to fiow the fiuid to the second set of cutters.

3. A drilling appliance comprising a string of drill pipe, a tubulardrilling tool having a first set of cutters rigidly connected thereto, aSecond set of cutters downwardly and outwardly slidably mounted in slotsat the bottom of the tool to cut on the bottom of the hole made by thefirst set of cutters, a plug mounted in the tool and having means tosuspend the plug in the tool, the plug having means to non-shiftablyretain the second set of cutters out of operative position, and aplunger insertable through the string of drill pipe into the tool, saidplunger releasing the means suspending the plug to allow downwardmovement of the plug and the second set of cutters.

4. A drilling appliance as claimed in claim 3, the tool beingconstructed to allow lateral movement of the second set' of cutters, thesaid plug forcing said cutters outwardly laterally and forming a centersupport for the inward thrust of said cutters in operation.

5. A drilling appliance comprising a drilling tool having a first set ofcutters rigidly connected thereto, a second set of cutters shiftablymounted ,in the tool and means to press the second set of cutterslaterally outwardly to bring said second set of cutters into operationon the'bottom and side walls of the hole "on dulling of the first set.

6. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a drilling tool havinga first set of cutters rigidly connected thereto at the lower end, asecond set of cutters shiftably mounted in the lower end of the tool,means to retain the second set of cutters out of operative position,while the first set is used for drilling, means to lower and to shiftthe second set of cutterslaterally to bring them into position fordrilling on dulling of the first set, and co-actingstructures betweenthe second set of cutters and the tool to carry the upward thrust of thetools and means engaging the second set of cutters to take the inwardthrust of said cutters.

7. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a string of drillpipe, a' sub, a l

drill tool, a first set of cutters rigidly connected to the tool, asecond set of cutters slidably mounted in the tool, a plug in the tool.means to non-shiftably suspend the plug in the tool, means on the plugto retain 'the second set of cutters out 4of operative position, aplunger insertable through the drill ipe and the sub, means to flow ahydraulic fiuid through the pipe, the sub, the plug to the first set ofcutters, the plunger having means engaging the sub to prevent flow ofsuch fluid, the plunger at the same time engaging the plug and releasingthe suspending means, the hydraulic Huid being adapted to positivelyforce the second set of cutters into operative position should saidcutters stick to engage the bottom of the hole made by the first set ofcutters.

`8. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a string of drillpipe., a tubular drill tool having slushing ducts therein, a

`first set of cutters rigidly connected to the tool, a second set ofcutters shiftably mounted in the tool, means to How a slushing iuidthrough an upper set of ducts in the drilling tool to the first set ofcutters, means to bring the second set of cutters into operativeposition to engage. the bottom of thc hole made by the first set ofcutters, means to cut ofi' the flow from the upper ducts and means toflow the fluid from a lower set of ducts to the second set of cutters,said means preventing fiow of the fluid through one set of ducts whenthe other set of ducts is in operation.

9. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a string of drillpipe, a sub, a drilling tool having a first set of cutters rigidlyconnected thereto cutters shiftably mounted in said tool, a plug in thetool having retaining means to hold the second set of cutters out ofoperative position, a plunger insertable through the drill pipes and thesub to engage the plug and by movement of the plug bring the second setof cutters into operative position, and means on the plunger engagingthe sub to prevent upward shifting of the plunger and plug.

and a second set of' l0. A drilling apparatus comprising a drilling toolhaving a first set of cutters and second set of cutters, means to shiftthe second set of cutters downwardly and outwardly into drillingposition after dulling of the first set of cutters, said drillingposition of the second set of cutters engaging said cutters with thebottom and the side of the hole made by the first set of cutters, andmeans to operate said second set of cutters without enlarging thediameter of the hole made by the first set, the said shifting means forthe cutters being operable without withdrawing the drilling tool from awell.

11. A drilling appliance comprising in combination a rotary drillingtool having a first set of cutters rigidly connected thereto, aV secondset of cutters shiftably mounted on the tool, means actuated by aslu'shing fluid to shift the second set of cutters downwardly andoutwardly into operative drilling position after dulling of -the firstset, said second set of cutters when in the drilling position engagingthe bottom and sides of the hole made by the first set without enlargingthe diameter of said hole, and said means being operative withoutwithdrawing the tool from a well. l

12. A drilling appliance as claimed in claim 11, a connection for flowof the slushing fluid from the drill -tool to the said cutters, the flowto the first set of cutters being shut off when the flow to the secondset is established.

13. A drilling apparatus comprising a drilling tool having a first setof cutters, a second set of cutters, means t0 positively non-shiftablysuspend the second set of cutters in inoperative position, means toforce said second set of cutters downwardly and outwardly to operate onthe bottom and contact the sides of the hole on dulling of the' firstset and without removal of the first set from the tool or from the well,and means to positively retain the second set of cutters in operativeposition, the second set of cutters having bottom cutting edges to cuton the bottom of the hole within a circle cut by the first set ofcutters.

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